Now we’ve entered February and we’re over a month into the new year and a whole load of failed new year resolutions, there’s no better time than now for a bit of self-reflection. By now, most of us will have had our Marie Kondo-inspired spring clean of our living spaces and more than likely let the moths out of the dustiest corners of our wardrobe in an attempt to see which items of clothing ‘spark joy’ and which ones should see a new lease of life with another owner via a charity bag. If you’re anything like me, this sort of clean out does wonders for the soul – there’s nothing I like to see more than a sparsely-filled wardrobe with actual ‘swing room’ on the rails (going back to my retail days there!) for my panic-bought flock space-saving hangers to lonelily sit on ready for new items to hug.[vc_empty_space][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The trouble is, very few of us actually know what items we should be buying and although I didn’t necessary realise it, I was one of those people. Shopping isn’t the issue. Like most girls, I love to shop but, also like most girls, I’ve been known to have a teary low-key tantrum or two in a fitting room when that item I’ve had my eye on – or worst, simply need to buy in a mad-dash panicked shop before an event – just doesn’t look right in that poorly-lit, unflattering cubicle mirror. The thing is, most of us don’t understand what we should be buying to suit our figures – and that goes whether you’re slim, curvy, tall, petite or anything in between. Different clothes suit different people and we could all avoid those mid-shopping meltdowns if we really understood what suited us.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Don’t get me wrong, I think I have a pretty good idea of what I look alright in and it’s good to find a style that suits and stick to it – as my 2018 rainbow selection of miniskirts for summer nights out showed us all haha – but to truly buy well, mix up your wardrobe and, in the long run, save money by being a savvy shopper, it’s important to understand your body shape. That’s why, I was so excited when one of my MIC clients, Hannah Shaw, offered to give me one of her mini style consultations.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4807″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I used to hear the words ‘personal stylist’, it conjured up images of an A-list celeb lavishly relaxing on a pastel pink pouf in their own dressing room somewhere, sipping a glass of fizz, whilst someone talks them through their options for their next five red carpet events. The term certainly didn’t mean, to me, a service that was available to the everywoman. Even with the introduction of personal styling lounges in the likes of Topshop in recent years, it would have never of crossed my mind that a ‘normal’ person like me – who just needs clothes for everyday activities like meetings, drinks and nights out – would fall into the category that would warrant a need for a personal stylist.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And that’s where I think many of us who have this misconception are, well, wrong. A consultation with a personal stylist is as normal and valuable as going to get your nails done or having a hair appointment. It may be that you don’t know what your body shape is and what you should be wearing. It may be that you want someone to come shopping with you and pick out key pieces to help you build a capsule collection. It may even be that you need someone to help you detox your wardrobe. Whatever it is, Hannah Shaw is the girl for you – and her services are a luxury you definitely can afford.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’ve actually done Hannah a disservice by calling her a ‘personal stylist’ up to now – her proper title is ‘Personal and Corporate Image Consultant’ and that honestly describes what she does so much better. Not only does she do all the things I mentioned above but she also offers personal branding for business, photoshoot styling, corporate presentations, total image packages, workshops and a whole load more. When you meet her, you’re instantly hit with her warm personality and, as her website says, you truly feeling like her sole purpose is to ‘empower people to live their lives with confidence’.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4808″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Even though I was really excited to have a session with her, and I already knew her, I was still a little bit apprehensive about what the whole thing would entail. Would I have to undress for her to work out my body shape? Would she whip out a tape measure and start wrapping it around my thighs? Thankfully, the answer to both was ‘no’ but Hannah puts you at ease so much and is such a lovely, understanding person, that I think if there was someone I had to trust to inspect me whilst stood half-naked it would be her![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Before meeting, Hannah sent me a little questionnaire to fill in to help determine what my current style personality was and what I, maybe subconsciously, wanted it to be. Multiple-choice questions like “how do you wear colour?”, “what is your working wardrobe?” and “what kind of jewellery do you like?” for Hannah to go through and assess. Now, I describe myself as a relatively young girl who loves in-trends and buys into fast fashion but do have a touch of my grandma in me and have a weird penchant for striped jumpers so it was no surprise to me that my default style personality turned out to be a ‘classic’. So basically, I’m quite neat with what I wear, I like plainer pieces, my jewellery is quite dainty and I can sometimes play it a bit safe. However, also revealed that I aspire to be have a ‘romantic/city chic’ style personality which I would totally agree with – slightly prettier feminine pieces with a mix of different textures and co-ordinated accessories to dress up my classic style.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4806″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We then went on to talk about my face and body shape. What’s really lovely about Hannah’s sessions is that she explains everything in so much detail to you and you get a real understanding of how your shape translates into what you should be wearing or doing. For example, I was pretty spot on with how my hair should be for my face shape – my long length was fine and I should have a sweeping side parting, as I usually do, across my face to break it up a little. She even recommends what shape and colour glasses you should be wearing, whether that’s normal day-to-day glasses or just, as in my case, sunglasses.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She explained to me that my body type is a ‘neat hourglass’ i.e. I have hips and boobs but also am quite nipped in waist. It’s easy to really focus on the negative points about yourself and it’s really nice at this point that Hannah really highlights the things that you’d totally rock wearing that other body shapes just couldn’t. All too often we complain about the things we can’t wear and say to ourselves “if only I had broader shoulders/a slimmer waist/smaller boobs/longer legs” but we rarely focus on the positives of the body we have and Hannah really helps you do this.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We went through the sort of styles we should be wearing and it all started to make sense to me. Neat hourglasses’ best look is achieved by wearing styles that emphasis your waist, which is why, coupled with my long legs, things like my aforementioned collection of mini skirts do work for me. However, for a similar reason, I learned that because of my small waist and bigger hips, that low waisted trousers or bottoms aren’t a great look because they cut me at a wider point that isn’t flattering. I’m not going to give away all Hannah’s top tips because a) her sessions are 100% worth the money and b) each person is completely different and even things that work for my neat hourglass shape may not necessarily work for yours because of our different proportions. However, what I will say though is that Hannah sends you an incredibly detailed and comprehensive ‘style workbook’ post-session and it literally details exactly what you should be wearing – down to styles, jewellery, footwear, underwear, materials and even names of shops that would best suit you. I’m not kidding, it’s ridiculous how much detail you get and how prepared and confident you feel for your next shopping trip. It’s full of tips and it’s something you can print off and take with you so you’re more than armed to make the right next purchase. Something she also goes into detail about, both in the session and the workbook, is scale. So when I was saying before that two different ‘neat hourglasses’ may need slightly different guidance, this is why. Height, build and shoe size all play a factor and that’s why is so useful to go to an expert to help you determine what you should be buying.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”4799″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hannah also did a mini-colour analysis on me. This is something I’d never heard of before but essentially it involved draping what can only be described as small cloaks over you to determine which colours of clothes suit you, drain you, warm you up etc – basically what colours you should and shouldn’t be wearing. To do this, you have to have no makeup on so Hannah can truly take stock of your skin colouring and I can’t tell you what an intriguing process it is to watch and be part of. I honestly don’t know how Hannah does it – I wouldn’t have the first clue where to start or what I’m looking for – but she expertly assesses using swatches of colours and these drapes whether you should be wearing deep or light colours, have cool or warm undertones and suit bright or muted palettes. It’s a really fascinating science and it takes a little while to do for Hannah to comprehensively decide on your right colours – she’s definitely a perfectionist! – but it’s so amazing to be able to know what sort of shades you should be wearing to show yourself off in the best light.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After that we had a quick look through some pieces from my wardrobe I’d brought along with me. I could have brought anything I’d liked that I wanted advice on or wasn’t sure about or just needed to know how to style and it was as nice to hear that I had bits in my wardrobe that were perfect and really suited me as well as it was to get Hannah’s advice on items. I’d brought along a black and white patterned light jacket that I absolutely loved but always felt bit drab in and Hannah gave me some great ideas of pairing it with a bright yellow cami as we’d just determined that was a colour that worked really well with my hair and colouring from the colour analysis.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4804″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4801″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I honestly feel like my session with Hannah was not only good for my wardrobe and body but for my soul too. Even if I didn’t already know and love her from previous work we’d done together, I would have felt like I was having a little gossip and mini-therapy session with an old friend. As I said before, she truly cares about woman feeling empowered and being the best version of themselves and her service really extends much further than ‘just talking about shopping’. It’s great to really get to the nitty gritty about how you feel in certain situations with not only your clothes but your confidence and I feel that, in such a non-invasive way, she really understands what’s needed to get you feeling the best you possibly can in any situation.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I can’t recommend Hannah’s services enough and whatever you’re looking to get out of an ‘image consultant’, she definitely can provide. She’s warm, friendly and not intimidating and it’s these qualities that make her as good at her job as she is. Take a look at her new website www.hannah-shaw.co.uk and book your free phone consultation with her – you won’t regret it.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row]
